Geelong will be wanting to bounce back with a victory against Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Monday night.

With the season approaching the midway mark, this game shapes as an important one for the Cats. A win would see them cement their place inside the top eight, whilst a loss would push them back into the pack.

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Geelong has made six changes with Mitch Duncan and Tom Stewart headlining the inclusions, whilst the Dockers have made two with Reece Conca and Brandan Matera replacing Stephen Hill and Travis Colyer.

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Taken with pick 14 in last year’s Rookie Draft by the Cats, Brad Close will make his AFL debut.

How the teams compare

Highest Scoring: Geelong (1st) v Fremantle (13th)

Total Disposals: Geelong (4th) v Fremantle (14th)

Clearances: Geelong (2nd) v Fremantle (14th)

Hit-outs: Geelong (9th) v Fremantle (17th)

Contested Marks: Geelong (18th) v Fremantle (1st)

Game Breakers

Patrick Dangerfield

Dangerfield loves an occasion and in the absence of captain Joel Selwood look for the dual Brownlow Medallist to try and lift his side and lead from the front. Dangerfield is ranked seventh in the AFL player ratings this season and averages more disposals and clearances than any other Cat.

Michael Walters

Walters was the star when both sides met in Round 20 last year. On that occasion the Dockers prevailed by 34 points and Walters had 29 disposals, eight clearances and a goal. He has started the year in brilliant touch with some plaudits believing he is the game’s best player in the competition at the moment.

Key Matchups

Harry Taylor v Matt Taberner

An area of the game where the Dockers will believe they can exploit the Cats is in the air.

They are ranked number one in the competition for contested marks this year and it’s their tall key forwards, Rory Lobb (17) and Matt Taberner (16) that lead the way.

Taberner has been their most prolific in front of goal, kicking 11 for the season and hitting the scoreboard in every game.

“He is a good developing key forward who is a threat in the air and quite a good mover around the ground as well,” Geelong coach Chris Scott said.

With Mark Blicavs likely to spend more time up the ground supporting Esava Ratugolea in the absence of Darcy Fort and Rhys Stanley, Harry Taylor’s leadership will be important down back.

Taylor is a highly intelligent footballer and leads the club for intercept marks this season. He is also particularly strong one-on-one. Look for Taylor and Lachie Henderson to rotate on Taberner and Lobb, with support from Jack Henry and Jake Kolodjashnij.

The Cats will be confident that they will be able to rebound effectively once the football hits the ground with Fremantle only ranked 16th in the competition for tackles inside forward 50.

Tom Stewart is a big inclusion and he will look to exploit this area and provide plenty of attack off half back.

Esava Ratugolea v Sean Darcy

Two players with exciting futures.

The battle between Esava Ratugolea and Sean Darcy in the ruck will be intriguing.

Only five picks separated them on draft night back in 2016 and little has changed with the statistics pointing towards an even contest on Monday night.

Darcy holds a slight advantage when it comes to hit-outs to advantage, but Ratugolea has the edge when the ball hits the deck and with his athleticism around the ground.

With the likes of Nat Fyfe and Joel Selwood sitting this game out, whichever ruckman can give their midfielders first use will set their side up to provide the cleanest ball going inside their attacking 50.

Brandan Parfitt v Andrew Brayshaw

Parfitt is currently in the midst of his best AFL season to date.

In Selwood’s absence, his importance increases significantly. He not only wins plenty of the ball, but it is the work he does defensively that allows the likes of Dangerfield and Duncan to go on the attack.

The 22-year-old leads the club for pressure acts (21.8 per game) and is ranked third in the AFL for tackles with eight per game.

“We have really liked Brandan’s year so far,” Scott said.

“It was really important that he got some continuity because he has got capacity to be a top line player and it is really the continuity throughout the early part of his career that has held him back in my view.”

“Along with Cam Guthrie, those two have been really important for us.

“Without Joel (Selwood) and Gary (Ablett), and Quinton Narkle as well which has hurt our structure a little bit, those guys do become a little bit more important.”

Set to line-up against him in the middle is fellow young gun Andrew Brayshaw.

Similar to Parfitt, Brayshaw has increased his output this season averaging 17 disposals and four tackles per game.

Broadcast and Match Details

Monday 27 July at 6.10pm AWST (8.10pm AEST)
Watch: Fox Footy, Kayo
Listen: K Rock Football